The final road game for the Boston Red Sox is finally upon us. And even with a win, the Red Sox can’t finish above .500 (38-42) on the road. Thank God for a 52-22 record at home with 7 games to play at Fenway Park.
A Yankees loss and Red Sox win gets the Sox into the playoffs today. Of course if they win they’ll have to wait about 11:00 PM tonight to find out their fate. Like I said in the morning post, I’d rather see the Red Sox clinch a playoff spot at home tomorrow night so we can see the celebration.
Daisuke Matsuzaka looks to cut the magic number of 2 in half this afternoon and puts his perfect road record on the line. He is 8-0 in 12 starts with a 2.61 ERA away from Fenway and sports a 17-2 record with a 3.18 ERA overall on the season. Dice-K has no record in 2 starts this season against the Jays with a 3.46 ERA and is 3-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 6 career starts with a 1-1 record with a 3.79 ERA in 3 starts at Rogers Centre.
Rookie Scott Richmond starts for the Blue Jays this afternoon and has never faced the Red Sox. He is 0-2 with 5.06 ERA and is making his 4th career start.
Adam Kilgore has some news and notes from this morning with nothing new to report on J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell.
Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
90-64
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mark Kotsay, RF
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Sean Casey, 1B
9. Jason Varitek, C
– Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP
83-72
1. Joe Inglett, 2B
2. Marco Scutaro, SS
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Scott Rolen, 3B
8. Travis Snider, LF
9. Curtis Thigpen, C
– Scott Richmond, SP
And here is how the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers. No one on the Red Sox has faced Richmond.
